Andy: "Mary, look, your boyfriend is here!"

Mary froze, staring at the form of Chris Peterson standing at the doorstep. He flicked what remained of his cigarette to the ground before walking inside.

Chris: "Hello, Love. Merry Christmas."

Chris shut the door behind him, grinning at Mary. James jumped up from where he had been sitting and stood at Mary's side.

James: "Mary, I thought you said the two of you were on a break? Would you like me to escort him out?"

Mary glared at James.

Mary: "Stay out of it."

The rest of the room was silent. Chris was somewhat surprised that an entire minute had gone by without anyone jumping up to attack him. Emily, Tristan and James all knew about him, yet they all seemed content to let Mary carry on with her charade.

Mary: "Come on in, Chris. I think we have plenty of rum to go around."
James: "No we don't."

Mary pretended not to hear James' comment. She smiled at Chris, while Chris marveled at the way she could make a smile look so sincere and yet so full of hate at the same time. As he walked into the room, he took her hand, bumping shoulders with James on his way past.

Mary left the smile plastered on her face for longer than she thought was humanly possible. The funny thing was, it wasn't completely fake. The more obnoxious Chris became, the more she smiled. She decided that her training and everything she had been working so hard for would finally pay off. While everything around her fell to pieces, she could at least do this one thing, take care of one nuisance. If only all problems could be solved by something as intrinsically simple as a stake to the heart. Chris was not going to live to see another night.

Mary: "Chris, darling, I'm awfully tired. Would you mind taking me home? I drove here, but I've had far too much to drink."
Chris: "Of course, Pet."
Mary: "Why don't you warm up the car while I go freshen up."